WE WANT TO WIN IT, SAYS JOE
By Trevor Mulligan
Friday 14 August 2009

Saturday 15 August sees Cray Wanderers commence the most challenging season in their 149 years history, when they travel to Aveley to play their first-ever Ryman (Isthmian) Premier League match.

Earlier on today, I caught up with Joe Francis, assistant manager of the Wands, on what is the eve of Cray's new epic adventure.

"Everyone's excited, Trev. We've got a whole squad of players who are more than eager for the season to start. They've performed well in pre-season and now they just want to get on with the real thing." Joe says.

Ever optimistic, and enthusiastic, he continues, "Jenko, Blado and me felt that it had to happen last season. Promotion had to happen or it was never going to be. But, we're now in the higher league, we've got that extra motivation to get the team going even more. We've got high expectations and high hopes."

This is not arrogance talking, as Joe was quick to explain, "It's not me being arrogant when I say that other teams have to underestimate us at their peril. It's confidence. Winning is a habit with us. We're all confident about doing well this year. We want to win it!"

I can well see where Joe is coming from on that. He doesn't strike me as being the arrogant sort, but he is bubbling with confidence. He believes in his own, Ian Jenkins' and Paul Blade's abilities and, of course, the ability of the squad that they've assembled for the new season.

"Do you know what? We've still got five or six players in the squad from before Cray's first season in the Ryman. Players who played for us in the Kent League who are still in there," Joe says with pride.

"We've got bags of experience in the squad now. We've got new fixtures this year, new places to visit and a higher standard of football. This Cray squad now has the ability to do very well at the higher level." He adds.

Anyone eavesdropping on our conversation at the time must have realised how much Joe, the squad and the management team are looking forward to the new campaign.

"We're really looking forward to it. Yeah, we've still got a couple of players nursing injuries - Kempo's knee isn't quite right, Leigh Bremner's ankle is still swollen and young Callum's ankle isn't quite there yet - but they're almost ready." Joe says.

Looking ahead to Saturday's game at Aveley, Joe comments, "Aveley got promoted too last season. Like us, they have high hopes and it should be a good game. Everyone respects our way of playing. We get lots of respect from other teams, and we like to think that we treat other teams fairly."

Joe did have one final thing to say about Wands supporters , "Jenko and myself are indebted to the hardcore section of supporters who watch us week in, week out. We know and appreciate what they do for us, the players and the Club. But we want more. We want more people coming through the turnstiles. They'll get to see a good game every time, because I think that Cray are the most entertaining footballing team in the area."

I, for one, won't argue with that!